Artists, Entrepreneurs Take Center Stage At Black Wall Street

Top: Friends Tanya Smith, Amanda Ward, Tracey LaFrazier and Tracey Harris. Bottom: The scene on the Green. Lucy Gellman Photos. Beneath a steely blue sky, Kentrell Ragin found the right words somewhere deep in his ribcage. Vocals swelled on all sides, and looked up for a moment, beads of sweat dotting his forehead. At the mic behind him, members of the Empowerment Christian Church kept the music coming.  “If you need a miracle, I need you to raise your hands and receive it!” he shouted. In front of him, two dozen pairs of arms rose into the warm air, fingers outstretched. Without missing a beat, Sian Mackall found three of her friends in the grass, and began to dance.   An infectious, sometimes larger-than-life excitement came to the New Haven Green Saturday afternoon, as the third annual Black Wall Street Festival (BWS Fest) brought music, dance, food, and over 210 vendors to the heart of New Haven. A celebration of Black artists and entrepreneurs, the eight-hour fête recognized how small businesses can build a community—and keep its creative ecosystem running.  For the first time this year, the festival marked the penultimate event of a week-long BWS Fest celebration that also included...